Reading a biography of C. S. Lewis got me thinking about stories…
True stories appeal to the rational and logical parts of our minds. We like facts.
…but fiction can sometimes illustrate concepts in a more effective way.
C. S. Lewis was the author of many Christian books, but one of his most popular was “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe”, in a series called “The Chronicles of Narnia”.
There’s an emotional depth to the children’s experiences in Narnia, and you begin to feel what he’s trying to say in addition to just thinking about it.
One of the concepts I believe Lewis was trying to illustrate was how the reality of a fallen sinner compares with what you might call the “alternate reality” of Christian experience.
In many fiction stories, there’s a border between one type of existence and another:
- In “The Wizard of Oz”, a storm moved Dorothy from a black-and-white Kansas into the Technicolor Land of Oz.
- In the Harry Potter series, “Platform Nine and 3/4” separated the drab and ordinary world of the Muggles from the complex and mysterious world of Hogwarts.
- In “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe”, the wardrobe is the threshold between a rainy day in an old house, and becoming part of a thrilling story with life-changing consequences.
I know my own perception has changed since I opened the door to Christian experience.
I crossed that threshold after many years of slogging through an ordinary life. I was born on one side of the fence with a limited view; an instinct for survival and a desire for self-gratification.
On the other side of the fence the view expands, and we learn about the true battle being waged behind the scenes. Once we step across the threshold, we become part of a story we never would have imagined:
Ephesians 6:11-12 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
The children in Narnia learn about Aslan, the true king who has been absent, but is “on the move again”. On the other hand, the White Witch insists that she is the true and rightful leader.
One of the children says, “We’re following a guide we know nothing about. Why shouldn’t it be leading us into a trap?”
When his brother Peter tries to explain what he believes, Edmond asks, “But how do we know?”
So, what should the children believe?
Well, the characters reveal themselves as the story progresses, and I think that’s a bit like real life.
We’ve stepped across a threshold into the land of Christianity, but evil birds build nests in its branches along with the good, and weeds grow freely among the harvest.
Matthew 7:15-17 Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit.
The Land of Christianity is not like The Land of Oz, where Dorothy is told who’s “The Good Witch” and who’s “The Bad Witch”.
No one is wearing labels.
The characters aren’t dressed in white and black costumes to make it easy to know who to trust and who to avoid.
We discover each player’s true character by observing how they respond to life, and in the choices they make.
We’ll know them by their fruits.
As the real story is revealed to the children in Narnia, and as they discover how the other character’s stories contribute to the grand narrative, they also realize that they themselves have become part of it.
Here’s a short excerpt from the biography of “C. S. Lewis – A Life”, written by Alister McGrath.
“The Chronicles of Narnia resonate strongly with the basic human intuition that our own story is part of something grander – which, once grasped, allows us to see our own situation in a new and more meaningful way. A veil is lifted, a door is opened, a curtain is drawn aside – and we are enabled to enter a new realm. Our own story is now seen to be part of a much bigger story, which helps us both understand how we fit into a greater scheme of things and discover and value the difference we can make.”
We’re all contributing stories to The Grand Narrative.
What’s your part in the story?